Difficult prob.

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Difficult prob.

by cris » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:43 am
If xy+z=x(y+z). which of the following mus be true?

A) x=0 , z=0

B) x=1 , y=1

C) y=1 , z=0

D) x=1 , y=0

E) x=1 , z=0

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by smushkas » Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:33 pm
Given the info we should solve for any number here.
xy + z = x(y + z)
xy + z = xy + xz
z = xz
z/z = x
x = 1

We are down to choices B, D, E,
Check B. ==> X = 1, y = 1, z = 3
We will get equation 1*1 + 3 = 1(1 +3) ==> 4 = 4
Check when z = 0. ==> 1*1 + 0 = 1(1 + 0) ==> 1 + 0 = 1+ 0 ==> 1= 1
Works, but we have to check all other choices.
D. x = 1, y = 0, z = 3
1*0 + 3 = 1(0 + 3) ==> 1 +3 = 0 + 3 ==> 4 >3 DOES NOT work.
Check E.
x = 1, z = 0, y =3
1*3 + 0 = 1(3 + 0) ==> 3 + 0 = 3 + 0 ==> 3 = 3 Works.
But, what if y = 0? Then, 1*0 + 0 = 1(0 + 0) ==> 1 + 0 = 0 + 0 ==> 1> 0, DOES NOT work.
The answer must be B, because it works for all numbers, positive and negative.

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by Stuart@KaplanGMAT » Sat Feb 02, 2008 10:13 pm
Hmm.. was there more information in the stem? Did you mistype the choices? It doesn't seem like any of the choices are MUST be trues.

We could pick x=0, y=0, z=0

therefore, b, c, d and e aren't MUST be trues.

We could also pick x=1, y=1, z=1

therefore a isn't a MUST be true.

We've elminated a, b, c, d and e.. umm.. choose (f)?
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by cris » Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:26 am
Sorry there is a mistake here, I forgot to put "and" or "or" in the answer choices...for me it doesnt make any sense either. Here is how it is:

If xy+z=x(y+z). which of the following mus be true?

A) x=0 AND z=0

B) x=1 AND y=1

C) y=1 AND z=0

D) x=1 OR y=0

E) x=1 OR z=0

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